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Earth's Systems

Environmental Science Unit 1

QuestionAnswer
Biogeochemical Cycle The movement of nutrients (water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) through the living and non-living parts of Earth.
Producer Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis. An example of a producer are trees.
Consumer Organisms that eat other animals or plants to get energy. An example of a consumer is a cow. Consumers help move nutrients through the biosphere.
Decomposer Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down waste and dead organisms.
Decomposition The process of breaking down or rotting of an organism. This is typically done by bacteria or fungi in biogeochemical cycles.
The Hydrologic Cycle The continuous movement of water on, above, and under Earth's surface. Also called the water cycle.
Evaporation A change in the state of water from a liquid to a gas. This process moves water from the hydrosphere to the atmosphere.
Condensation A change in the state of water from a gas to a liquid. This process makes clouds and happens in the atmosphere.
Precipitation The return of water from the atmosphere to the Earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Evapotranspiration The movement of water up through a plant and out of the leaves into the atmosphere. This process takes water through the biosphere and moves it to the atmosphere.
Runoff Water that flows over land and collects in a larger body of water like an ocean, stream, or river.
Infiltration The process of water moving from the surface of Earth deeper into the soil.
Groundwater flow Water that moves underground. The water infiltrates the soil and continues to move until it empties into a larger body of water like an ocean.
Hydrosphere A system of Earth made up of all water, liquid or solid, on Earth's surface.
Geosphere/Lithosphere A system of Earth made up of the rocky parts of Earth.
Atmosphere A system of Earth made up of the gases that surround Earth.
Biosphere A system of Earth made up of living things such as plants, animals, and bacteria.
The Carbon Cycle The movement of carbon among the living and non-living parts of Earth.
Carbon Sink A part of Earth that STORES more carbon than it releases.
Carbon Source A part of Earth that RELEASES more carbon than it stores.
Burning Fossil Fuels A processes that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Cellular Respiration The process by which organisms use oxygen to break apart sugars and release carbon dioxide and water as a result. This process is done by animals and adds carbon to the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis The process by which producers create their own food. Producers use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make sugar and oxygen. Photosynthesis moves carbon from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
Ocean/Atmosphere Exchange Oceans dissolve carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere.
Weathering The breaking down of rock by wind, running water, or glaciers. Weathering can move carbon and phosphorus from the lithosphere to the hydrosphere.
The Phosphorus Cycle The continuous movement of phosphorus between the living and non-living parts of Earth.
Uplift of rock The vertical movement of rock deep underground. This brings rock to Earth's surface. Uplift moves nutrient underground to the surface.
Leaching Leaching is the movement of phosphorus from rock (lithosphere) and moves it into the hydrosphere. This happens when water on the surface moves deeper underground, making its way into groundwater flow.
The Nitrogen Cycle The movement of nitrogen through the living and non-living parts of Earth.
Nitrogen Fixation Process by which bacteria or lightening 'fix' nitrogen so that plants can use it. Nitrogen gas is converted into ammonium in the lithosphere. This process moves nitrogen from the atmosphere to the lithosphere.
Nitrification Process in the lithosphere where bacteria change ammonium to nitrates and nitrites. Plants will absorb and use nitrates.
Denitrification Process in the lithosphere when bacteria convert nitrates in soil or water back to nitrogen gas when it can then move back into the atmosphere.
Assimilation Process by which plants absorb and use nitrates in the lithosphere.
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